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National family survival and preparedness organizationWed, 29 Jul 2015 14:34:11 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Is Your Air Conditioner Making you Sick?http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/air-conditioner-making-sick.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/air-conditioner-making-sick.html#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 14:34:11 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22604While your air conditioning unit is keeping you cool in the summer, there are a few health risks you should be aware of. With constant use of your air conditioners, you can lead yourself to having health problems or exasperating the ones you already have. By learning how to avoid those health risks you can […]

]]>While your air conditioning unit is keeping you cool in the summer, there are a few health risks you should be aware of. With constant use of your air conditioners, you can lead yourself to having health problems or exasperating the ones you already have.

By learning how to avoid those health risks you can easily enjoy the cool of your home during the blazing hot summer temperatures. You can also learn a few tips to help keep your indoor air quality clean and help you breathe easier.

Dry Skin

While you might not even think about it that air conditioning unit is drying out your skin. Prolonged exposure to the cooler air can really pull the moisture out of your skin. To help combat this problem, you should consistently apply moisturizing lotion to your exposed skin. This will help to minimize dry itchiness and peeling that can sometimes accompany the problem.

Dry Nasal Passages

Some people are prone to having nosebleeds and one season that it is the worst is the summer. That is because the air conditioner can also dry out your nasal passages as well as your skin. This can lead to nosebleeds when you least expect them. Try using some saline solution when you know that you’re going to be in the AC a long time. It will help to keep your nose moisturized and feeling its best.

Colds

With your nasal passages and mucus membranes drying out it can leave you wide open to catching upper respiratory infections. This means that your normal immunity is not what it should be and you will catch colds more easily than normal.

Intolerance to Heat

Staying in the AC for long periods of time will soon acclimate you to the colder temperatures. It will be harder for you to stay out in the heat for any length of time and cause you to be intolerant to it.

Exasperate Allergies

If you already have allergy issues, the AC’s constant running can actually make them worse. This all happens when you have an improperly maintained system. It can be blowing mold, mildew, dust, and pollutants around without you even knowing it.

Ways to Help

There are several things you can do to help prevent these problems during the summer. You can avoid this risks by taking a few simple steps to protect your home and yourself. First consider an air purifier being added to your home. This will help to eliminate the dirty air that can be circulating in the home. These can be installed by your local HVAC technician.

Consider running an in-home humidifier if your AC system doesn’t regulate it already. This will help keep some moisture in the air without making it too warm at the same time. Keeping the humidity regulated is key in helping to combat dry skin, nasal passages, and warding off colds.

Make sure you clean or change the air filters on a regular basis. The ideal change rate is every 30 days to prevent build up and debris restricting your system. Also have regular maintenance performed on your system by an HVAC technician. They will clean the system, check for leaks, and perform small repairs to ensure your system is running smoothly.

Try to spend sometimes outdoors as well. This will help you to stay used to the heat and prevent problems down the road. By taking these few steps in your home you can avoid some of the common health risks that prolonged use of the air conditioning unit can cause. Be sure to take the proper precautions for a healthy lifestyle in the home.

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/air-conditioner-making-sick.html/feed0Items For Your Survival Baghttp://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/items-survival-bag.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/items-survival-bag.html#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 16:42:58 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22535The latest SHTF bill, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is working its way through Capitol Hill as we speak. If passed, this bill will ship millions more of American jobs overseas. As a fix-up, the idea for something known as Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is also being fast tracked through the legislature. This bill […]

]]>The latest SHTF bill, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is working its way through Capitol Hill as we speak. If passed, this bill will ship millions more of American jobs overseas. As a fix-up, the idea for something known as Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is also being fast tracked through the legislature. This bill would work by taking $450-$700 million per year from Medicare funds to help people who lose their jobs as a result of TPP, weakening one of American’s greatest retirement safety nets.

It’s more important than ever for people to take seriously the direction not only of the country, but the world at large. That’s not to say that you should immediately sell your home, buy remote land and build a solar and wind-powered cabin. However, you should at least prepare as if a complete economic meltdown is inevitable (and very likely to be worse than what occurred in 2007). Survival packs for each family member puts you ahead of everyone else on your block. It also gives you an excuse to take a few family camping trips for practice. These three items should be included in each pack.

Life Straws

Vestergaard Life Straws should be included in all survival packs. These handy little water filters weigh less than two ounces each and measure only nine inches long. To use, simply place the straw directly into a water source and drink it as you normally would. The hollow fiber membrane filter inside the straws remove nearly all bacteria, protozoa and other deadly microbes that could be present. It also cleans the cloudiness from dirty water without an aftertaste. One filter effectively cleans about 265 gallons (1,000 liters) of water before it needs changing.

Sunglasses

In the event that a nuclear bomb tears a hole in the Earth’s atmosphere, ultraviolet sun rays will shine through unfiltered. To survive this you’ll need to be indoors away from windows (a cave would be ideal) to withstand the initial heat blast. But once the dust settles, you still won’t be able to go outdoors without wearing shades.

Two durable pairs of sunglasses should be part of every backpack. The frames themselves do not need to be top-of-the-line. But you don’t want something so cheaply made that they fall apart from normal wear-and-tear while being stored and carried around in a backpack.

Make sure to purchase a set of replacement lenses for each pair of glasses. You can always improvise to replace a temple (arm) or glue (weld) back together a broken frame. But there’s nothing in nature that will protect your eyes like the lenses will.

Multipurpose Essentials

Some multipurpose items that you need to consider adding to your rucksack include:

Thin rope to make snare traps is one essential. Practice making a few of them on your next camping trip. You can basically “set it and forget it” until it catches something, preferably a rabbit or squirrel.

An all-purpose knife (it should cost at least $50, if not more). A good knife will come in handy for everything from food preparation to building shelter.

A collapsible pen fishing rod.

Universal bait that stores for a long time and takes up little room. Salmon eggs are a good example of this.

A roll of 10X25 plastic. This will come in handy when there’s no water available at all so you can make solar stills.

Waterproof matches, iodine, snake bite kits, a needle and thread, crank radio and extra socks are also essentials.

Finally, make sure to keep your pack up-to-date as the months go by without using them. Life Straws last indefinitely (have no shelf life). But your fish bait, rope and anything else that ages should be replaced every 12 months or so.

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/items-survival-bag.html/feed0Are You Prepared For The Really Big One?http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/prepared-really-big-one.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/prepared-really-big-one.html#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 16:39:48 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22586Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of discussion around the likelihood of a major earthquake in the Pacific Northwest. The original article in the New Yorker describes many scientists certainty that the massive quake is coming and will raise Seattle and Portland to the ground with a massive 100ft high tsunami. […]

]]>Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of discussion around the likelihood of a major earthquake in the Pacific Northwest. The original article in the New Yorker describes many scientists certainty that the massive quake is coming and will raise Seattle and Portland to the ground with a massive 100ft high tsunami. This article made me question my own families safety and how we could be better prepared.

The following is a list of the top 5 changes that you can make to be ready for such a disaster.

Structural integrity

Although making a tsunami proof home is impossible, you can make your home more protected from floods. This can be achieved through several steps. The first step is fix your window and door seals. This is where the initial flood waters will enter a structure. It will begin with a simple damp spot. The wall will weaken then a total section collapse will follow. I saw this during hurricane Katrina. The homes with poor window and door seals had a 60% higher fail rate than those with solid seals.

Get a Pet

Have you ever seen videos where animals begin to flee an area prior to a major natural disaster? In an earthquake, initial rounds of seismic waves are released which can be detected by many animals, mainly those with migratory instincts. Getting a pet can give an early warning system with up to 2 minutes of prior notice.

Emergency Dry Bag

Keeping a dry bag with an emergency set of dry warm clothing can save your life. If you are in a tsunami prone area and one happens to strike there is a high likelihood of loosing your home. In the initial aftermath you will likely be soaked and highly susceptible to hypothermia. Having a set of dry clothing will help to improve your likelihood of survival.

Buy Flare Gun

Should you be washed out to sea your likelihood of survival may look slim. One of the best ways to improve your chances of survival is to have a flare gun. This will allow you to greatly improve your visibility and hopefully attract a rescue team.

Have A Plan

This is the most important factor in survival. Having a solid plan will allow you and your family to make fewer decisions and be faster. The faster you can react the quicker you gen get out of harms way. Every second counts, are you ready?

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/prepared-really-big-one.html/feed1Radio Review: Baofeng’s UV-82HPhttp://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/radio-review-baofengs-uv-82hp.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/radio-review-baofengs-uv-82hp.html#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 15:01:03 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22550Can a measly few watts of power make much difference? When folks at Baofeng Tech asked me if I’d review the new 8 Watt UV-82HP UHF/VHF ham radio, the FIRST thing I thought of was comparing two different models against each other at their max power setting, and see how great a difference there was in range. A […]

When folks at Baofeng Tech asked me if I’d review the new 8 Watt UV-82HP UHF/VHF ham radio, the FIRST thing I thought of was comparing two different models against each other at their max power setting, and see how great a difference there was in range. A totally unscientific comparison, but doable, since I already own two Baofeng’s, two Baofeng UV-5R’s. I figured it would settle, (at least in my mind), the range question from a practical standpoint, plus give a reference point radio to compare.

Let’s start with a first impression…

UV-82HP:you can play the FM radio for three 8 hour days at work on a full battery charge.

For some, (like me), that’s important. It’s also a practical test of current drain, like keeping the radio turned on scanning memory banks all day. Figure around 18 to 24 hours service between charges under light duty cycle. Audio volume and clarity is VERY impressive. I’m also impressed with the radio’s fit and feel. There’s substance to the radio, but because of it’s slim form factor, there’s no problem with it clipped to a pants pocket all day. It’s not a bulky brick.

If ever I hear some blow-hard spout off about “cheap Chinese Radios” I’d hit them with this one… it’d leave a dent.

The LED flashlight has an enclosed lens and reflector focusing the light. A radio with a built-in flashlight is occasionally more handy than the radio itself.

UV-5R: (First this Crevat: I LOVE my UV5-R’s) The radio resembles a handheld radio version of a Sherman Tank, a small Sherman Tank. While the ’82 is slim and curvy, the ‘5R is not. Part of it’s appeal has been it’s utilitarian chunkiness, however, I found the ‘5R to be a bit little top heavy clipped to my belt, the antenna trying to upend the radio, so I seldom kept the radio clipped to my side for long. I usually just carry them around. As for volume, compared to the ’82…it’s no comparison, the 5R’s speaker sounds thin and tinny, the female voice commands a mumble most of the time.

Please understand, while both radios have the same circuit design, I’m comparing Apples to Oranges here, the UV-82HP is a different radio model from a feature standpoint, as well as performance, as I soon found out. First… testing how both models compared working from a level playing field.

Rubber meets Road…RF meets Ozone

Testing for typical performance, I used both of my stock UV-5R HT’s and the ’82HP at the same power output, to compare signal reports through a local repeater about 5 miles away.

I discovered the UV-82HP receiver had some signal fading due to antenna orientation, vertical being distinctly stronger than horizontal. So did the UV-5R’s, only not as much.

Holding the radio upright, the received signal clears up fine. It’s not a big problem, it just means I can’t look cool holding the radio sideways like they do on TV or in the movies.

All things the same, only different…

It turns out under identical power levels and operating conditions, the UV-82HP’s transmitted audio signal into the repeater was louder than both UV-5R’s. This was confirmed through signal reports from my contact, who didn’t know which radio I was using. Perhaps carrier deviation is just hotter in this particular HT, but over all, the UV-82HP had a better quality signal than both of my UV5-R’s. Actually, I’m more lead to think it’s the battery capacity of the different radio models making the difference, the UV-5R’s using stock 1500 mAh. batteries, vs the UV-82HP, with 1800 mAh. (That’s a little radio tech secret… you get a cleaner signal with greater battery capacity.) The batteries and supplied chargers are not interchangeable between the UV-82HP and the UV-5R.

This may also explain the longer duration between recharge, just listening to the FM radio.

The Main Event

On testing extreme range, I tried all three radios… the two UV-5R’s, and the UV-82HP, to get into a distant repeater, each using the radio’s highest transmit power.

It ended up being no contest…

For this test, I worked into the 1500′ blowtorch of the Pee Dee region, the W4PDE 2 meter repeater outside of Dillion SC. It’s 57 miles away, and generally covers a 125 mile radius.

After several attempts, both UV-5R’s couldn’t raise the repeater, no response at all.

I expected that. It was quite a stretch to expect the 4 watt UV-5R’s to get that far, especially with me standing at street level. But surprisingly, the UV-82HP hit the repeater first time with ease. My contact, Tim W2SOC, reported my signal clear and readable with some white noise on my signal. Still, a VERY respectable report. Later on that evening, back home in the woods, the UV-82HP reached the Dillion repeater again, this time at 50 miles away. But sadly, both UV-5R’s couldn’t cut the mustard again. I have to say in the past, I had reached the Dillion repeater from my front porch, with one of my UV-5R’s …on a good day. But this wasn’t one of those days for a UV-5R, it was however, another day in paradise for the UV-82HP.

All things being the same, the UV-82HP has better signal quality overall than my UV-5R’s. As for it’s greater power settings, it’s obvious the radio’s range is significantly greater.

Showing Off…

At this years local field day, the UV-82HP was the belle of the ball because it was NEW!

I got the radio in the hands of as many Hams as I could for their feedback. Owners of UV-5R’s liked it’s fit and finish, and everyone liked it’s greater power output. Those who own older UV-82’s were envious, but knew it was the logical next step in the model line.

The two-button PTT feature, used to select between two banks of memory, was initially confusing for UV-5R owners, but they quickly caught on to how it eliminates need to manually select between memory banks, and allows you to work two separate stations, just by pressing one or the other key button. If you don’t like the feature, you can turn it off in the settings using programming software.

One noted the ’82 seemed more geared for using preset memories, which it is, arriving out of the box set up in channel mode. You hold down the menu button when turning on, to switch the radio to frequency mode. I also showed both radios to Hams who don’t own neither radio, asked them to pick which one they like. Most chose the UV-82HP over the UV-5R because it felt “more like a radio”, (One even called the ‘5R “a toy radio”)

Assessing ease of use.

Right off the bat I noticed manual programming is more refined than with the UV-5R series, however, a practiced hand is still needed to set up and load memories manually. It’s obvious the radio begs to be programmed plugged into a computer, using programming software like CHIRP. Incidentally, the ’82 doesn’t come with programming software or a USB programming cable. Not a problem with those who already have a earlier model Baofeng, but if you’re new to the brand, you should consider getting the programming cable too. Trust me, you’ll want one, even with this radio. The included manual is thick, informative, and written by someone here in the US.

Using the most recent daily build of CHIRP software, (it’s very good free software BTW), and accessing repeaterbook.com for the local repeater list, I had the radio on the air, 5 minutes out of the box.

Summing Up

I’m impressed with the UV-82HP, it’s a big step up from the UV-5R, with a more refined design. Overall, the radio is easy to set up using programming software and a USB cable, (which most Baofeng radio owners already own), and it has plenty of transmit power. It’s a perfect alternative to the popular high power variant of the UV-5R, the Baofeng BF-F8HP. It appears cross-compatibility of batteries and chargers between same model series radios would be a factor. If your comfortable with how a UV-5R operates, and seek greater power, then go with the BF-F8HP. However if you seek a more refined design in functions and form, along with very respectable range, you should take a serious look at the UV-82HP, I think you’ll be very glad you did.

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/radio-review-baofengs-uv-82hp.html/feed3How to Generate Striking Power In Self Defenshttp://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/generate-striking-power-self-defens.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/generate-striking-power-self-defens.html#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 14:54:06 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=18707One of the ways to generate striking power is to get stronger by utilizing the big lifts such as squats, dead lifts, overhead presses and bench presses. When you get stronger, you can generate more force. Another way is to move your body weight, using a tool (elbow, knee, etc.) through a target of an […]

]]>One of the ways to generate striking power is to get stronger by utilizing the big lifts such as squats, dead lifts, overhead presses and bench presses. When you get stronger, you can generate more force.

Another way is to move your body weight, using a tool (elbow, knee, etc.) through a target of an attacker as shown in the video.

A third way is to step into the strike like you are throwing a baseball. Step & throw, or step and strike. This generates power by forcing you to move your body weight into the strike and automatically causes you to rotate your hips to generate incredible power.

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/generate-striking-power-self-defens.html/feed0Should I Stay Or Should I Go?http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go.html#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 14:51:02 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22521By Bobby Akart of Freedom Preppers Consider this. An elderly couple once sought my advice about funding their retirement lifestyle. They asked how much money they could take out of their savings to live on. My response: “How long do you plan to live?” Retirees have to make sure they don’t outlive their savings. The same principle applies […]

Consider this. An elderly couple once sought my advice about funding their retirement lifestyle. They asked how much money they could take out of their savings to live on.

My response: “How long do you plan to live?” Retirees have to make sure they don’t outlive their savings.

The same principle applies to prepping. Many of us have common questions. How many months of food storage do I need? How many days should my bug out bag sustain me? How much medicine must I store? The answer to these and similar preparedness questions is similar to the advice to retirees. How long do you plan on living?

In my opinion, a committed prepper is prepared for all contingencies. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Simple, right? If you believe our country could face any number of potential TEOTWAKI events then you should identify your bug-out location now and move there! Are the conveniences of the city or the extra money a certain job may provide you worth risking your life and the lives of your loved ones?

That said, there are many preppers who will not follow this advice. For a starting point, lets address the prepper’s conundrum:

Bug In or Bug Out

The longer we delve into the subject of preparedness, the more apparent it becomes that making the choice to bug in or bug out is dependent on many factors. Because this topic is far too in depth to write about in one article so we will explore in detail one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your family – whether to bug-in or bug-out.

1. Factors to Consider

Making the decision to bug-in or bug-out are both unique to one another. Moreover, both are extremely stressful situations that involve a lot of forethought and planning in order for a smooth transition to take place. Obviously, we’d all like to hunker down with our supplies and ride out a storm, but there are factors to consider in the bug in or bug out decision making process:

Age, Physical Condition

Health Considerations

Family Relationships

Financial Constraints

Household Security

Community Stability

Geography

Climate

Overall Conditions

The situations listed above will cause a momentary shift in our everyday lives. No longer can we run out to pick up necessary items at a store, go to the hospital for medical care, or rely on emergency responders to keep us safe. Further, supply trucks will be delayed in re-supplying necessary food, water and survival needs, or the government may have felt it necessary to intervene and have a military presence in the city or town that you live. In some cases, banks will shut down making it impossible for you to access your hard earned money.

Consider this. Hurricane displaced residents of New Orleans and New Jersey were never allowed to move home. Their 72 hour bug out bag did not do them in any good.

Inevitably, in times such as these, the survival of our family will rest upon our shoulders, and if we find ourselves in an environment that isn’t conducive to our way of life and we are unable to thrive, then we must make the choice to leave the environment or stand firm and defend it. But before that choice is made, weigh your options carefully (including your risks and odds at surviving). What it all comes down to is which scenario will you be safest in and thrive the most.

The above-listed events and factors can cause extreme upheavals in our lifestyles and communities; therefore, we must take these into consideration. To evaluate whether or not to bug-in or bug-out, you need to ask yourself the following important questions:

2. Do you have sufficient food and supplies for your family need to survive?

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to bug in or bug out you take the chance of being on your own for an extended period of time. It could be 2 weeks, a month or longer and it’s all on you. The place that you decide to survive in needs to have an adequate amount of supplies to carry your family through. As well, thought should be put into longer term survival needs in case the disaster becomes long term.

Keep in mind that with respect to major natural disasters, water sources are usually questionable following a disaster, fuel is scare, shelf stable food supplies are limited, supply trucks are delayed, flooding and damage to homes could be a problem, and home invasions are also at the forefront. If you don’t have the supplies, tools and skills needed to live on your own for at least a two week period or longer, then you should consider finding shelter elsewhere.

Note: To determine whether or not you are adequately supplied, consider simulating an “off grid” weekend and live off of your preps to see how well equipped you are. This will help you find any “holes” in your preparedness supplies and areas where you need to bulk up.

3. Will you be safe until a disaster recovery effort occurs?

Another important consideration when deciding to bug-in or bug-out is that history has shown that following a disaster social breakdowns typically occur. If the event is severe enough, the government may decide that martial law is the only recourse and legally has the right to confiscate guns, thus taking away your ability to protect yourself. If you live in a highly populated area, where crime waves and looting could pose a problem, then this could leave you and your family vulnerable to home invasions and a family member could be injured.

Further, you need to really examine whether your home is a safe place to bug in. Is the home far enough off the street to prevent flooding? Is your home built on a solid foundation? Can you defend it if attacked? Do you have a strong local community support (i.e., a well- organized neighborhood watch program, church outreach programs, or friends and relatives that live nearby)?

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when making the decision to bug-in or bug-out. Population density, community support, probability of natural disasters, etc. are all factors to strongly consider. Dangers occur in both situations if you aren’t properly prepared.

4. What should I carry with me?

At Freedom Preppers, we have a creed we suggest you live by:

As you prepare your Every Day Carry Bag (EDC), Get Out Of Dodge (GOOD) Bag or I’m never Coming Home (INCH) Bag, be sure to ask yourself if the contents would insure your survival for an extended length of time. You cannot assume that order will be restored within 72 hours.

Lists of essential items to carry in your bug out bags are available on the Freedom Preppers website. Here are the seven basic types of gear to be contained in your bug out bag:

Water: bottles, including catchment + purification tools

Food: primarily MRE’s, energy bars

Clothing: rotated seasonally

Shelter: tarp, tent, sleeping bag

First Aid: good, basic kit

Weapons: handgun in common caliber, ammo, knife

Basic Gear: think Camping, rain, fire, cooking, light

5. What if I bug in?

Once you have made that decision, prepare to live with it. As your neighbors realize that a collapse event has occurred, they will flee populated areas. Everyone will be heading for the hills! This could be disastrous.

We lived in Galveston,Texas in 2005 when Hurricane Rita devastated the island. Right on the heels of the havoc wreaked in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina, the state ordered mandatory evacuations. There were 113 deaths in Texas associated with the storm, but only three directly related to the winds, flooding and storm surges. The rest occurred on the highways as residents fled west and north of Houston. A two year old Houston girl was crushed between the wheels of a pickup. A family was killed when thrown from their vehicle during the exodus. A dozen died when a bus carrying the elderly exploded.

We made a decision to remain in Galveston and hunkered down in a 140 year old solid granite building with steel storm shutters. It was the safest course of action at the time. Depending on circumstances, bugging in makes sense, if your home is safe.

The takeaway from this article is simple. As you prepare, ask yourself: How long do I want to live? Then prepare for all collapse events accordingly.

Get to preppin’!

Bobby is the author of an epic series of novels entitled The Boston Brahmin Series. Political suspense collides with post-apocalyptic thriller fiction as nine Bostonians whose lineage dates back to the American Revolution navigate the societal and economic collapse of America. Can The Loyal Nine save the republic while protecting the interests of their mysterious benefactors — The Boston Brahmin? Learn more at www.TheBostonBrahmin.com.

Because you never know when the day before … is the day before.
Prepare for tomorrow.

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go.html/feed5Surviving Dystopia!http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/surviving-dystopia.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/surviving-dystopia.html#commentsMon, 13 Jul 2015 17:15:46 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22543Surviving Dystopia, What the heck does that mean? In it’s most basic sense? “The art of Getting By” In 1516 Sir Thomas Moore coined the word Utopia… in his book of the same name, he is describing a society possessing near perfect qualities…. Dystopia is described as the opposite of that, often characterized by dehumanization, […]

What the heck does that mean?
In it’s most basic sense? “The art of Getting By”

In 1516 Sir Thomas Moore coined the word Utopia… in his book of the same name, he is describing a society possessing near perfect qualities…. Dystopia is described as the opposite of that, often characterized by dehumanization, totalitarian governments, disasters or some other cataclysmic decline in society… George Orwell’s Dystopian novel 1984 was a classic example of such a society.

Join Author DJ Cooper (Surviving Dystopia) every Wednesday night at 9pm Eastern Time on Prepper Broadcasting for a live show about keeping those Dystopian moments at bay. With no set course and a plethora of topics to discuss, take your chances call in, and join us in the chat room. I don’t like it stuffy and prefer a little entertainment with my learning so how about exploring the world of Sir Thomas Moore.

Certainly, I think the biggest message I would like to discuss on Surviving Dystopia is a simple one… “&%#$ Happens” I talk about this a little bit on my blog “Especially in the post about anxiety.”

Many things happen in our lives and in the world we can’t always control…it could be anything from a minor setback, personal loss or even major catastrophes. Walking around thinking it won’t happen to me or the government will take care of me is a naive outlook at best. More recently an excellent example of this false thinking comes to mind….Katrina…. I mean, it is not like such a hurricane just pops up…people knew it was coming…they knew New Orleans sat below sea level yet they just sat there, waiting for the inevitable; convinced the government would save them all… I think we can all see how that went.

Alfred Henry Lewis said, “there are only 9 meals between mankind and anarchy” this is a fact….3 days is all that represents… Looking more recently at Ferguson…how quickly did a simple protest spiral into anarchy? So much today is completely out of whack…we see issues in our government and there is becoming a wider and wider split in the US between liberal thinking and constitutional thinking…so much so that it almost seems as tho it is a mini war raging among the people… some of the socialist ideology that seems to be gaining in popularity is so flawed but people cant see the flaws in it….they think they can create a Utopian society by leveling things out…but that is exactly what the book 1984 is about…when you take from those who work hard to give to those who don’t people loose vision, they loose hope…why bother…….another good book is the giver…think about it everyone is the same and even dreaming of something other than what you are told to dream is punished. Another good series believe it or not that applies is hunger games… where freedoms are taken and the elite are entitled…eventually chaos ensues..

If you live in an area prone to tornado’s is it not prudent to have storm shelter? It just makes sense to be aware of possible Dystopian moments and to keep your world from coming unhinged; one would think people would attempt to minimize the impacts. It is funny but people worry more about protecting their money than they do their families…you buy insurance, invest for retirement…yet don’t keep a candle in the house in case the power goes out.

The message is simple “&#%$ happens”…could be a job loss, could be illness or accident, maybe a hurricane or full on Armageddon, invest in your personal utopia lest it become a dystopia.Join us Wednesday on APN Radio 9:00Est 8:00Ct 6:00Pt for Surviving Dystopia Debut Live Show!Listen and Chat

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/surviving-dystopia.html/feed0Hammer Fists for Self Defensehttp://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/hammer-fists-self-defense.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/hammer-fists-self-defense.html#commentsTue, 07 Jul 2015 18:39:26 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22471WARNING! This video contains some graphic video clips. In this video I am going to show you what targets to strike with your hammer fist(s). I believe that the target is more important than the technique. Therefore, regardless of the technique you use, if you don’t strike/smash a target that will cause damage or a […]

WARNING! This video contains some graphic video clips. In this video I am going to show you what targets to strike with your hammer fist(s). I believe that the target is more important than the technique. Therefore, regardless of the technique you use, if you don’t strike/smash a target that will cause damage or a somatic reflex on your attacker then you’re just “punching meat”. Some of the targets I discuss are the bridge of the nose, collar bone, solar plexus, pelvic plexus, groin, trachea, vagus nerve, eyes, liver and spleen. I also show some video clips of these targets being struck. Some of these clips are pretty graphic so be warned. I also show you a partial clip of a lesson from my online self defense program “Self Defense Made Real Easy”. This lesson talks about one punch knockouts and the unintended consequences of street fighting. Please subscribe, like, comment & share. Thanks, Coach David

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/hammer-fists-self-defense.html/feed1Elbow Strikes for Street Fighting and Self Defense by Coach David Alexanderhttp://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/elbow-strikes-street-fighting-self-defense-coach-david-alexander.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/elbow-strikes-street-fighting-self-defense-coach-david-alexander.html#commentsFri, 03 Jul 2015 19:31:06 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22469Please share this video with your friends and on your blogs. In this video I am going to show you the five basic elbows that you can practice at home. I am also going to show you what targets, on the attacker, where you need to focus your elbow strike such as the solar plexus, […]

In this video I am going to show you the five basic elbows that you can practice at home. I am also going to show you what targets, on the attacker, where you need to focus your elbow strike such as the solar plexus, temperomandibular joint, mandible, ribs, collar bone, groin, etc… I don’t believe in just throwing a technique such as an elbow strike without aiming at a target. You need to strike a target in order to cause damage or a reaction that can open up another target. Otherwise you’re just “Punching Meat”.

]]>http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/07/elbow-strikes-street-fighting-self-defense-coach-david-alexander.html/feed0Fiesta Chicken & Rice: Freeze Dried Ingredientshttp://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/06/fiesta-chicken-rice-freeze-dried-ingredients.html
http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2015/06/fiesta-chicken-rice-freeze-dried-ingredients.html#commentsMon, 29 Jun 2015 13:30:48 +0000http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/?p=22293Article shared by: CookingWithJalapenoGal.com Did you forget to lay that meat our for dinner aaaagain? No worries. I have a recipe that will save you and taste like you spent quite a while making it, but in reality, it only takes 10-15 minutes to make and you do not even have to use a skillet. […]

Did you forget to lay that meat our for dinner aaaagain? No worries. I have a recipe that will save you and taste like you spent quite a while making it, but in reality, it only takes 10-15 minutes to make and you do not even have to use a skillet. Interested yet?

I am going to show you how to make a Chicken Fiesta Rice bowl that can be stored on your shelf for months without going bad if it is stored properly. (Please read all directions on how to store at bottom of article.) To prepare it, all you have to do is add 1 1/2 cups (Sometimes 2 depending on the bowl you use) of boiling water to it and you’re done. Yup,that’s it!

I have put together a short video to guide you in preparation and a list of the ingredients are listed below it. This meal is created using NuHarvest Freeze Dried Foods and I have to admit, once it is re-hydrated you really can’t tell that is what it is. It tastes so fresh and good. My husband and kids couldn’t tell and my husband even let some of the guys at work try it and it was a hit.

Ingredients:

Makes 2 full cups of Chicken Fiesta Rice. You can double up the ingredients or even triple them if you have a large family. I can feed four people (2 adults, 2 teenage girls) when I double it up.

To Prepare:

Mix everything together in a bowl that will hold at least 2 cups of water.

Boil 1 1/2 cups of water

Pour water into bowl and stir so that all ingredients get wet and spices are blended well

Cover and let sit for 10 minutes

It is that easy. The only thing to wash are the bowls and spoons.

Storing Meal in Mason Jars:

If you are going to store a few of these already prepared meals in jars on the shelf it is imperative that you use an Oxygen absorber to seal the jar or a vacuum sealer (Jar Sealer Attachment) so the meat does not go rancid and make you sick. Eat within 3 months.

If you are making some up in baggies then you will need to store them in the refrigerator and use within 3 weeks. If you store them in the pantry they should be used with in 10 days.